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Barcelona are reportedly set to meet the £72million release clause in the contract of Real Madrid star Marco Asensio.

Barcelona are wasting no time counting their pennies following the €222million sale of Brazilian star Neymar, with the Catalan giants in the market for a marquee signing to fill the Brazilian’s boots at the Nou Camp.

They could, however, have more joy with Asensio. Last season he made 38 appearances for Madrid scoring 10 goals. While he faces a battle to get into Zinedine Zindane’s first XI, he is highly rated by the Frenchman and will likely get games despite the presence of Isco and Gareth Bale at the Bernabeu.

With Neymar gone, Barca can offer Asensio consistent game time and it’s for this reason Marca believes they will have a chance of snaring him away from their bitter rivals.

The report claims Asensio’s buy-out clause is currently set at £72million and that will not deter Barcelona in their quest to sign the player.

Asesnsio has been previously linked with moves to Manchester United and Liverpool, though the player was quick to rebuff those rumours.

“In the end I do not think about other teams or if I could play in other teams, I always think about Madrid,” Asensio said at the time.

“I found it difficult at first, but you have to work in the training sessions and be prepared to take advantage of the opportunity when it comes.

“I already said that I wanted to stay and that I was going to fight for minutes.”